Toothbrush with multiple bristles states

Abstract

An oral hygiene device includes a head, a first bristle field, and a second bristle field. The head includes a first head portion and a second head portion. The first bristle field extends from the first head portion. The second bristle field extends from the second head portion. The first bristle field and second bristle field are controllably movable between a first configuration for providing a first cleaning operation and a second configuration for providing a second cleaning operation.

1. An oral hygiene device, comprising:
 a head having a fixed component, a movable component, and a linear slidable link engaging the movable component, the movable component being movable between a first and a second configuration; 
 a first bristle field extending from the fixed component; 
 a second bristle field extending from the movable component; 
 a powered actuator for controllably moving the movable component between the first and second configurations; 
 the linear slidable link being slidably movable, to position the movable component in a first plane in the first configuration and in a second plane in a second configuration, and wherein the second plane is disposed subjacent to the first plane. 
 
     
     
       2. The oral hygiene device of  claim 1 , wherein the second plane is disposed between 0 millimeters and 2 millimeters from the first plane. 
     
     
       3. The oral hygiene device of  claim 1 , wherein the powered actuator cycles the component between the first and second configurations, and wherein a time period between cycles is at least about 0.5 seconds. 
     
     
       4. The oral hygiene device of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed component comprises two rows of bristle tufts, wherein the movable component comprises at least one row of bristle tufts, and wherein the at least one row of bristle tufts is disposed between the two rows of bristle tufts. 
     
     
       5. The oral hygiene device of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle and a vibration device disposed within the handle. 
     
     
       6. The oral hygiene device of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary bristle field extending from the fixed component. 
     
     
       7. The oral hygiene device of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary bristle field extending from the movable component. 
     
     
       8. The oral hygiene device of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary bristle field extending from the first head portion or from the second head portion. 
     
     
       9. A toothbrush having a handle, a head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head, the toothbrush further comprising:
 a first bristle field committed to a first tooth engaging position; 
 a second bristle field extending from a movable component engaged with a 
 a linear slidable link, the linear slidable link being slidably movable, to cycle the movable component and second bristle field extending therefrom between a second tooth engaging position and a third tooth engaging position, wherein the third tooth engaging position is subjacent to the first tooth engaging position; and 
 a powered actuator for controllably moving the second bristle field between the second and third tooth engaging positions. 
 
     
     
       10. The oral hygiene device of  claim 9 , wherein the third tooth engaging position is disposed between 0 millimeters and 2 millimeters from the first tooth engaging position. 
     
     
       11. The oral hygiene device of  claim 9 , wherein the powered actuator cycles the second bristle field between the second and third tooth engaging positions, and wherein a time period between cycles is at least about 0.5 seconds. 
     
     
       12. The oral hygiene device of  claim 9 , wherein the first bristle field further comprises two rows of bristle tufts, wherein the second bristle field further comprises at least one row of bristle tufts, and wherein the at least one row of bristle tufts is disposed between the two rows of bristle tufts. 
     
     
       13. The oral hygiene device of  claim 9 , further comprising a handle and a vibration device disposed within the handle. 
     
     
       14. A toothbrush comprising:
 a head having a first head portion and a second head portion, the first head portion being fixed with respect to the head and the second head portion being movable between a first configuration and a second configuration; 
 a first bristle field extending from the first head portion, the first bristle field terminating in a first plane; and 
 a second bristle field extending from the second head portion, wherein the second head portion is engaged with a linear slidable link, the linear slidable link being slidably movable, to cycle the second head portion and second bristle field extending therefrom between the first configuration and second configuration, the second bristle field terminates in a second plane in the first configuration, wherein the first plane and the second plane being coplanar, wherein the second bristle field terminates in a third plane in the second configuration, and wherein the third plane is disposed subjacent to the first plane. 
 
     
     
       15. The oral hygiene device of  claim 14 , wherein the third plane is disposed between 0 millimeters and 2 millimeters from the first plane. 
     
     
       16. The oral hygiene device of  claim 14 , further comprising a powered actuator for controllably moving a second head portion between the first and second configurations. 
     
     
       17. The oral hygiene device of  claim 14 , wherein the first head portion comprises two rows of bristle tufts, wherein the second head portion comprises at least one row of bristle tufts, and wherein the at least one row of bristle tufts is disposed between the two rows of bristle tufts.